We are a San Francisco-based chamber group who is dedicated to bringing both classical and non-classical music into unique spaces. Our unconventional instrumentation allows for creativity in many forms so that we can curate concerts that inspire people. We love performing in community-oriented spaces that invite the wider San Francisco community to enjoy music of different styles and genres.

Our mission

The Bridge Music Collective aims to curate performances that are engaging, accessible, and out of the ordinary. Our unique instrumentation allows us to expand the repertoire and interest for eclectic chamber music in San Francisco by converging contemporary and classical genres, collaborating with 21st century composers, and facilitating educational outreach concerts.

Bridging the gap

Woodwind and String Instruments:

The most popular instrumentations for chamber music involving bowed strings or woodwind instruments has traditionally been the string quartet (2 violins, viola, cello) or woodwind quintet (oboe, clarinet, flute, bassoon, french horn). One piece, among a few, was able to bring the string and woodwind families together: Sergei Prokofiev’s ‘Quintet in G minor, Op. 39’.

This piece is unique not only in its instrumentation, but also for what inspired Prokofiev to write it (Google it! It’s an interesting story. Hint: think tight-rope.) Our appreciation for the full and diverse sound of this instrumentation inspired us to form our collective. We know you’ll appreciate it too!

Performer and Listener:

Have you ever been to an orchestra concert and thought, “Wow! They sound amazing. Too bad I was trapped in my seat and couldn’t express my delight to the performers.” Yeah, us too. We’re very used to separating the performer and audience. It’s almost as if the stage is an art exhibit - there is something beautiful, but it is usually quietly observed, with limited interaction.

The Collective appreciates the unique experience of audience and performer interaction. We can talk to you, and you can talk to us, like people do! We are looking to other artists like jazz musicians and singer-songwriters for inspiration on how to better interact with audiences and make sure everyone is having a good time.

Tradition and Experimentation:

Our ensemble represents somewhat of a paradox. All of us have spent many years, at least half of our lives dedicated to learning our instruments through traditional classical training. We perform in a concert setting as a chamber ensemble, yet find ways to subvert traditional programming.

We ask, “what happens if we take something as singular as a Bach prelude and fugue, and split it into five musicians?, what happens if we perform in a multi-function space that has never seen a chamber ensemble?, and what happens if we talk through the concert more casually, allowing a back-and-forth between performer and audience?” We want to answer all of these questions with you.

We also enjoy discovering pieces with diverse origins, particularly pieces by historically underrepresented composers and pieces from cultures around the world. This makes our programming so much more rich and flavorful, and we have a good time finding new favorites along the way.